JP2023548873A - Insert devices for air conditioning equipment and air conditioning equipment with insert devices - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention is an insert device for air conditioning equipment, the air conditioning equipment includes an air handling unit (1) that guides air flowing in a given flow direction, and the air handling unit (1) includes at least a filter ( 5, 7) with a casing of a predetermined cross section in which the insert device is housed, a frame having an outer closed periphery shaped so that the insert device is mounted within the predetermined cross section of the casing of the air handling unit (1); an air-permeable catalyst comprising a casing (8) and having open end faces (9) for air flow, each of the end faces (9) being provided with a support grid (17) and a coating of catalyst material; A grid structure (12) is retained, the catalytic material is a mixture comprising an adsorbent and a first catalyst activatable by electromagnetic radiation and a second catalyst activated at low temperatures, and the frame casing (8) is , additionally focuses on an insert device which holds the electromagnetic radiation source between the catalytic grid structures (12) on its end faces (9). [Selection diagram] Figure 1

Description

The present invention is an insert device for air conditioning equipment, wherein the air conditioning equipment includes an air handling unit that guides air flowing in a given flow direction, and the air handling unit has at least a predetermined cross section in which a filter is housed. The present invention relates to an insert device for such an air conditioning installation having a casing. Furthermore, the invention relates to an air conditioning installation with an insert device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Air conditioning equipment is used in enclosed rooms where a large number of people or animals are present for living, working, and/or meetings. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Air conditioners serve to remove air from a room and return it after filtering to avoid dust accumulation. Often, at least a portion of the air removed from the room is replaced by fresh air drawn from outside the room to replace the accumulated _CO2 with _O2 . The fresh air may be heated or cooled as required.

Most air conditioning equipment is suitable for removing particles from the air within a room so that at least some amount of the air within the room can be recirculated. However, most such equipment is designed to trap particles and chemical contaminants by additional units, which may become ineffective due to overload or fouling. must be replaced at the appropriate time to avoid this.

In this specification, air conditioning equipment includes not only fixed equipment in which the air handling unit is connected to the air guiding pipe, but also equipment with a cabinet in which the air handling unit can be intentionally positioned. shall be taken as a thing. The aforementioned cabinet can be used as a mobile air conditioner with an input opening and an output opening that can be connected directly to the ambient air or, alternatively, for sucking the air to be purified from the room or to the purified air. It can be used as a mobile air conditioner having at least one opening connected to a pipe for distributing air.

Air conditioning equipment is known that is capable of not only adsorbing but also destroying chemical and even microbiological pollutants. They use very large size cabinets as air handling units to which air guiding tubing is connected. It stands to reason that when there is an imminent threat from bacteria, viruses, and fungi, regular air conditioning equipment is useless if it only recirculates the air in the room. As a remedy, at least the underpowered air handling unit must be replaced by an air handling unit suitable for destroying chemical and especially microbiological contaminants. Such replacement operations can be complicated, as the new air handling unit will often be much bulkier compared to the underpowered air handling unit that was in use. Therefore, in many cases, an underpowered air handling unit itself or an underpowered filter within an air handling unit is not replaced, resulting in a risk to the health of humans or animals in the room. The term "room" is used herein to include rooms in private residences, meeting rooms, business offices, conference halls and similar venues, factory halls, stables, and the like.

Air handling units suitable for destroying airborne contaminants often include accelerated oxidation processes (AOPs) such as catalysts and are used in hospitals, quarantine stations, or public places such as restaurants. used in air conditioning systems or air purification systems to purify the ambient air. It is also known to use combinations of two or more catalysts, primarily a catalyst whose activity is initiated by electromagnetic radiation, in particular UV radiation, and a further catalyst which may already be effective at ambient temperature. The combination of both catalysts is effective for destroying microbiological contamination with the catalyst activated using electromagnetic radiation and for completely mineralizing the reaction products of the first catalyst using the second catalyst. It has been found that. Examples of each catalyst are described in People's Republic of China Patent Publication No. 106582265 and Japanese Patent Publication No. 11-137656. UV lamps are used as electromagnetic radiation sources and must be placed close to each catalyst.

For example, from Japanese Patent Publication No. 11-137656, a catalyst composition consisting of manganese oxide, titanium dioxide and an adsorbent is known. These are attached to a solid support via a binder. The binder partially covers the catalyst, thus reducing just the amount that can be achieved by the activating UV radiation and the molecules to be cracked. According to another embodiment, a suspension of ingredients is impregnated into the porous body of the fabric. However, these result in high flow resistance for the gas to be decontaminated. Therefore, it is impossible to efficiently clean a large amount of gas per unit of time. In an embodiment of this document, the proportion of the second catalyst may not exceed an amount of 22% of the titanium dioxide in order not to reduce the activity of the titanium dioxide.

People's Republic of China Patent Publication No. 106582265 Japanese Patent Publication No. 11-137656

The aim of the invention is to enable the decontamination of air in closed rooms in combination with current air conditioning equipment.

According to the invention, the above-mentioned insert device is a frame casing with an outer closed periphery and shaped to be mounted within a predetermined cross section of the casing of the air handling unit and with an open area for air flow. a frame casing having end faces, each of the end faces holding an air permeable catalyst grid structure with a support grid and a coating of catalyst material, the catalyst material containing an adsorbent and an electromagnetic radiation a first catalyst activatable by a first catalyst and a second catalyst activated at low temperatures, the frame casing additionally holding a source of electromagnetic radiation between the grid structures on its end face. There is.

The present invention eliminates chemical contamination in a compact insert device that can be inserted into a commercially available air handling unit of an air conditioning installation instead of or in addition to the filter of the air handling unit. The idea is to provide the air treatment necessary for the destruction of material and biological contaminants. Therefore, the present invention allows for easy upgrading of conventional air conditioning equipment so that they are effective in destroying chemical and biological contaminants without rigorous rebuilding of the air conditioning equipment. Become something. Since the second catalyst is already activated at low temperatures, especially at ambient temperature, the second catalyst can be effective at ambient temperature without a specific activator. By low temperature we mean below 70°C, in particular below 50°C.

For many purposes, it is advantageous to include a fan within the air handling unit to create the air flow. In some embodiments, the air handling unit is part of a fixed installation and is connected to air guide tubing. As used herein, the term "air guide tubing" is also known as "air duct" and both terms are used interchangeably herein. In other embodiments, the air handling unit is a stand-alone unit or at least for breathing the air to be purified and/or directing the decontaminated air to the desired location(s). A cabinet connected to tubing for distribution.

The insert device of the present invention can be designed to fit within the frame structure of an air handling unit designed to hold one or more filter units. Thus, according to the invention, a frame structure known for conventional filters is used to hold an insert device with a complete arrangement for destroying chemical and biological contaminants. That means it can be done.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an air conditioning equipment including an air handling unit that guides air flowing in a given flow direction, the air handling unit having a casing with a predetermined cross section in which at least a filter is housed. , the filter is held by a support frame having a circumferential shape adapted to the free cross section of the air handling unit, such an air conditioning installation is provided in which the insert device is inserted in a sealing manner into the support frame. It is characterized by Within the air handling unit, the insert device with the catalyst is arranged in place of the previous filter unit or in addition to one or more other further units, which may be conventional filter units such as adsorbents. A filter unit that can be used and used can be established. "Hermetically inserted" means that there are no significant detours for the air flowing through the air handling unit, essentially all air passing through the insert device. do. Perfect sealing is not required. In certain embodiments, the air handling unit also includes a fan to create the air flow.

Since the conventional filter unit is arranged in such a way that it can be easily removed from the air handling unit for cleaning and/or replacement purposes, the insert device according to the invention can be easily inserted into the air handling unit. . Thus, the insert device of the present invention allows easy upgrading of conventional air conditioning equipment without the use of additional space or additional cabinets or the like.

In some embodiments of the insert device of the invention, the first catalyst is activatable by UV radiation and the electromagnetic radiation source emits UV radiation. For this purpose, at least one UV source may be arranged between the grid structures as an electromagnetic radiation source device. The UV source may be at least a conventional UV lamp as well as an array of UV LEDs. In another embodiment, the electromagnetic radiation source device may be a plasma generator that generates UV radiation due to radiation of a plasma, preferably a cold plasma. In this embodiment, the plasma is used to enhance the effectiveness of the catalyst and to form highly reactive species that can destroy chemical as well as biological contaminants.

When both catalysts as well as adsorbents are respectively mixed in powder form, a very fine distribution of the respective particles is obtained when the grid support is coated with the slurry of the aforementioned powder materials.

In some embodiments of the invention, the catalyst grid structure is highly resistant to redox processes. It may have a honeycomb structure providing a large surface for sufficient stability and catalytic effect, combined with low resistance to air flow through the grid structure.

If desired, the catalyst grid structure may be completely covered on each outer surface of the insert device by a layer of air permeable flexible filter material. The optional filter material is configured to confine UV radiation within the insert device so that it does not reach areas external to the insert device and potentially harm persons working near the air handling unit. may be specifically designed for. The layer has a thickness of approximately 1 mm and may consist of a non-woven fabric made of glass fibers, for example. In another embodiment, the aforementioned layer may be in the form of a metal grid with a mesh width of the order of a few μm, so as to retain UV radiation on the one hand and create a low pressure drop for the flowing air on the other hand. This purpose requires very fine walls of the metal grid, resulting in a high flexibility of said layers on the input and output sides of the insert device establishing the catalytic reactor. For mechanical stabilization, the layer may be held by a support grid with a mesh width of a few millimeters that has a relatively low flexibility but does not increase the pressure drop for flowing air.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to embodiments depicted in the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG.

1 is a side view of parts of an air conditioning installation, with the air handling unit shown in cross-section; FIG. 1 is a partially exploded view of a first embodiment of an insert-type device; FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the attached insert device. 4 shows a detail of FIG. 3 in a perspective view; FIG. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the complete insert device; FIG. 2 is a transverse cross-sectional view of an insert-type device. 1 is a schematic perspective view of the internal wall of an air handling unit with a standard support frame capable of carrying an insert device; FIG. Figure 3 shows the insert device installed into the support frame. 4 shows a different embodiment of a support frame designed to carry four filter units; 10 shows four insert devices installed into the frame of FIG. 9; 2 is an exploded view of some optional components of the grid structure; FIG. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the grid structure shown in FIG. 11; 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an air handling unit within a rack cabinet. FIG.

FIG. 1 shows the essential parts of an air conditioning installation, consisting of an air handling unit 1 with air guide pipes (air ducts) 2 connected at both ends. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the effective or maximum diameter of the air handling unit 1 is somewhat larger than the diameter of the air guiding tube 2. In the embodiment of FIG.

A fan 3 is positioned within the air handling unit 1 and serves to advance the air within the air handling unit 1 and the air guiding tube 2 (air duct) in a predetermined flow direction 4 indicated by the arrow in FIG. . The air guide tubing 2 guides the air driven by the fan 3 into an essentially enclosed room (not shown) as purified air, and also sucks the room air and directs it to a filtering and purifying stage. will be guided into the air handling unit 1 for this purpose.

The air handling unit 1 has a conical end in order to establish a transition from the smaller diameter of the air guiding tube 2 to the larger dimensions of the air handling unit 1. Air flowing into the air handling unit 1 passes through a pre-filter 5, usually a coarse filter, for retaining larger particles in the air stream. The air is then accelerated by the fan 3 and then passes through the insert device 6 according to the invention. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the insert device 6 extends over the entire free diameter of the air handling unit 1 so that the complete air flow passes through the insert device 6.

After passing through the insert device 6, the air flow may be further adapted to pass through a filter unit 7, which can optionally be arranged at the downstream end of the air handling unit 1. The filter unit 7 may consist of or include a conventional HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter for air conditioning installations.

FIG. 1 shows that the insert device according to the invention is arranged in the air handling unit 1 in the same way as the prefilter 5 and the filter unit 7; in this way the insert device is arranged in the air handling unit 1. It can be easily installed and does not require extra space within the air conditioning equipment. Although FIG. 1 shows the fan 3 within the air handling unit 1, the fan 3 for generating the air flow may also be installed within the air guide tube 2 or within the air circuit, such as at the inlet of the air guide tube 2. It may also be positioned elsewhere.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the basic structure of the insert device 6 that allows its insertion into the air handling unit 1 . The insert device 6 consists of a frame casing 8 forming an outer closed periphery and having two open end faces 9 . The frame casing 8 has a width W smaller than its height and depth. In this embodiment, the frame casing 8 carries within it eight UV lamps 10 arranged in pairs equally spaced over the height of the frame casing 8. The height and depth of the frame casing 8 correspond to the respective dimensions of the free section of the air handling unit 1, as will be explained in more detail below. The frame casing 8 forms on both open end faces 9 circumferential seats 11 into which a catalyst grid structure 12 is inserted in order to close the case of the insert device 6 . The catalyst grid structure 12 is air permeable so as not to create an undue pressure drop in the flow direction of the air stream. As is clear from the drawing, the frame casing 8 is oriented such that its width is parallel to the flow direction 4.

The shape of the frame casing 8 as well as the catalyst grid structure 12 depends on the dimensions of the free cross section of the air handling unit 1 of the air conditioning installation.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of an insert device 6' designed for a square cross section of an air handling unit 1. The insert device 6' is shown in the installed state with the catalyst grid structure 12 inserted into the respective seat 11 of the frame casing 8 and held in place using brackets 13, which are circulated by the fan 3. The catalyst grid structure 12 is held in place without extending into the flow path of the air being driven or driven. The bracket is attached to the frame casing 8 using screws 14. This is shown in detail in FIG. The surface of the catalyst grid structure 12 may be at least approximately flush with the surface of the frame casing 8 and may only protrude slightly from this surface.

Figures 5 and 6 show two cross-sectional views of the installed insert device 6' in two mutually perpendicular directions. The frame casing 8 extends along a circumference having a width W. The open end face 9 is closed by a catalyst grid structure 12, which will be described in detail below. Inside the casing of the insert device 6' a UV lamp 10 is held and serves to activate the photocatalytic component of the catalytic grid structure 12 as explained in detail below.

Figures 7 and 8 show schematic views looking into the interior of an air handling unit forming a rectangular channel. A standard support frame 15 for the filter unit is used and fixed. The insert-type device 6 is designed and dimensioned to fit into a standard support frame 15 such that the surface of the insert-type device 6 is essentially flush with the standard support frame 15 described above. Fixation of the insert device 6 within a standard support frame 15 can therefore be easily accomplished by means of the bracket 16.

Figures 9 and 10 show an embodiment in which a standard support frame 15' provides four seats for the filter unit. This embodiment serves to accommodate a larger free cross section of the air handling unit 1. A standard support frame 15' may hold four filter units and provide greater stability compared to larger frames holding only one filter unit. This modified support frame 15' can be used to hold four insert devices 6 as depicted in FIG.

An embodiment of a catalyst grid structure 12 is depicted in FIGS. 11 and 12. An essential element of the catalyst grid structure 12 is a support grid 17 made of aluminum, for example. The carrier grid 17 may have a honeycomb structure so as to provide hexagonal channels through which the air flow must pass. Other carrier grid structures may be used, such as rectangular, square, or rhombic or rhombic grids. The material of the carrier grid 17 may be selected in any suitable manner, for example it may be another metal or a suitable plastic material.

In one embodiment, the carrier grid 17 consists essentially of aluminum or an aluminum alloy. Aluminum has high electrical conductivity. This makes it possible to improve the separation of the charges formed by the catalyst during the redox process, and the better separation of the charges means that their recombination is lower, thereby reducing the charge from airborne contamination. The efficiency of the reaction is improved because it participates more in the catalytic reaction for material removal. In addition, aluminum's high thermal conductivity allows it to be activated at lower temperatures, such as manganese oxide (MnO) catalysts, from the ambient air, typically in the 20-23°C range, and from the heat emitted by UV lamps. This makes it possible to promote better heat transfer to the second catalyst to be converted. Low temperature catalysts are typically activated in the 20-80°C range and have good activity in the 40-55°C range, such as 45-50°C.

In addition, aluminum also has a low elastic limit, thus avoiding continued deformations of the support and thus deformations that would weaken the catalyst coating. In some embodiments, the catalyst as defined herein is coated without any binder, so that if the support is deformed, many cracks will be created in the catalyst surface, resulting in may become brittle and the coating may be lost.

Also, aluminum is an inert material and cannot react during redox reactions or be destroyed by catalysts, as is the case with organic materials such as polymers. Moreover, aluminum is lightweight and therefore easy removal of the insert device according to the invention can be carried out without noticeable deformation. Therefore, high class rates according to eg EN1806 are possible.

In addition, a honeycomb-shaped structure, which is a preferred structure for carrier grids according to some embodiments of the invention, is preferred compared to other three-dimensional structures. The material has very open cells, thus reducing pressure drop. This means that there is no resistance to air flow. Also, a high irradiation is achieved which allows a high activation of the first catalyst.

The material may be present in many different dimensions of thickness and number of cells per cm ² . Furthermore, considering the many types of light sources, it is even possible that small light sources such as LEDs could be implemented directly inside the cells of the honeycomb to improve catalyst irradiation. The honeycomb structure makes it possible to provide a rigid material and therefore the coated catalyst inside the cells, i.e. in certain embodiments of the catalyst (without the presence of a binder), from handling and cracking. well protected. The hexagonal shape of the aluminum honeycomb cells is the embodiment that provides the best compromise between the stiffness of the metal surface and support and the weight of the metal.

The support grid 17 is coated with catalytic material. The compact structure of the insert device 6, 6' is achieved thanks to the highly efficient catalytic material consisting of a first catalyst, a second catalyst and an adsorbent, the aforementioned components being prepared separately and each Mixed in powder form. The mixture is placed in a suitable liquid, such as a mixture of water and alcohol, to form a slurry, which will then be coated over the entire surface of the carrier grid 17. Preferably, the coating is carried out in several steps, forming thin layers in each step, which together form a uniform coating of the desired thickness, which may be between 1 and 250 μm. Coating can be accomplished by various methods including dip coating or spray coating. After each coating step, a thin layer is dried before the next layer is applied. Thereby, a binder-free coating can be achieved and the efficiency of the catalyst can be enhanced.

The through holes or channels of the carrier grid 17 are designed in such a way that the free cross-sectional area of the air handling unit 1 is only slightly reduced when the insert device 6 is installed in the air handling unit 1 . The area of the through holes may account for at least 80%, preferably at least 90%, of the area of the free cross section of the air handling unit 1. To provide sufficient catalytic effectiveness, the length of the through-holes should be at least 5 mm, in other embodiments at least 10 mm, 15 mm, or 20 mm, and up to 50 mm and more. The ratio of the length of the through hole to the critical wall distance (“diameter”) of the through hole is preferably greater than 2, in other embodiments greater than 5, greater than 10, and in these cases less than or equal to 50. 30 or less, or 20 or less in other embodiments. The distance (diameter in the case of round through holes) of the limiting wall of the through hole is at least 2 mm, and in other embodiments at least 5 mm or at least 7 mm. The upper limit is 50 mm, and in other embodiments 20 mm or 10 mm. Straight channels formed by through-holes are preferred from the standpoint of minimizing the pressure drop caused by the grid structure.

The carrier can be made of a metal, such as aluminum or steel, a plastic material, or a composite material, for example. The carrier can be designed, for example, as a grid, plate or expanded metal. In a preferred embodiment, the carrier is formed from a corrugated and/or folded sheet forming a plurality of through holes, preferably in a honeycomb manner. The advantages of honeycomb panels compared to planar materials are a larger surface area to be coated and lower pressure drop. Furthermore, the irradiance within the cell is also excellent. The carrier is often simply referred to as a honeycomb or honeycomb panel. Preferably, the through hole has a hexagonal cross section.

In certain preferred embodiments, the through-holes occupy at least 80% of the volume of the support, more preferably at least 85%, most preferably at least 90%, especially at least 95% of the volume of the support. This helps ensure sufficient gas flow through the support during use. The support structure of the carrier is therefore provided thinly, for example in the form of a thin metal, preferably a thin aluminum or another inert material, ie a material that essentially does not react with the catalyst. Aluminum offers the advantage of being lightweight and sufficiently inert, so that the catalyst does not attempt to attack the support itself in a decisive manner.

The through-holes preferably have a length of at least 1 cm, more preferably at least 2 cm along the length through which gas can flow through the support. Preferably the length does not exceed 20 cm, more preferably it does not exceed 10 cm. The length of the pores, which is usually equal to the thickness of the grid-like support, has a significant influence on the efficiency of decontamination. If the length is too short, the catalytically active surface provided is low and therefore decontamination is not efficient. If the length is too high, the UV radiation will not reach the photocatalyst in the center of the pores, or will not reach it enough, so that some of the photocatalyst provided will not be activated. Furthermore, it is difficult to satisfactorily coat the central portion of a long through hole. Therefore, the pore length to diameter ratio may also be important. The ratio is preferably greater than 2, more preferably greater than 5, especially greater than 10, preferably less than or equal to 50, more preferably less than or equal to 30, especially less than or equal to 20. If the cross-section of the through-hole is not circular, the approximated circumscribed circle or the diameter of the least squares-approximated circle may be used to determine the diameter for calculating the ratio. The diameter of the pores is preferably at least 2 mm, more preferably at least 5 mm, especially at least 7 mm. The diameter of the pores preferably does not exceed 50 mm, more preferably does not exceed 20 mm and especially does not exceed 10 mm.

Preferably, the through-hole runs in a straight line and is not curved or angled along its length.

The ratio between the diameter of the through-holes and the thickness of the bar or sheet of the carrier separating adjacent through-holes is preferably greater than 10, more preferably greater than 20, in particular greater than 40.

In certain preferred embodiments, the slurry is binder-free. This means that no additional inorganic or organic binders are added to enhance the adhesion of the first catalyst, second catalyst and adsorbent to the support. Binders are, for example, cellulose and its derivatives, certain proteins or polymers, and inorganic binders such as silica or alumina. For example, residual amounts of capillary-bound suspension are not considered binding agents. Similarly, water, for example from atmospheric moisture, is not considered a binder. Preferably, the slurry is still considered binder-free as long as the amount of binder does not exceed 2% based on the total mass of adsorbent, first catalyst, and second catalyst. In particular, no matrix of binder molecules is formed around the catalyst and adsorbent on the support after evaporation of the suspension.

The slurry can be applied to the support by various methods, including dipping. In certain preferred embodiments, the slurry is applied via spray coating. Spray coating provided extremely durable and consistent coatings, especially without the need to provide a separate binder to the slurry. The coating preferably withstands air pressures of up to 4 bar, especially without the use of binders. Preferably, the slurry is applied using a spray gun. Preferably, a manual spray gun is used, in particular a low to medium pressure spray gun with a maximum pressure Pmax of, for example, 8 bar. Preferably it has a gravity suction cup. Preferably, spray coating is performed in a vertical direction. In one preferred embodiment, the inlet pressure is 3.5 bar and the liquid flow is 2.5-3.0 liters per minute. The distance between the carrier and the spray gun is preferably between 10 and 30 cm, preferably about 15 cm. Good coating properties were achieved using the above exemplary parameters. Specifically, the coating adhered satisfactorily to the support, which is preferably an aluminum honeycomb.

FIG. 11 shows a further layer 18 extending over the entire area of the carrier grid 17. The aforementioned further layer 18 is an air-permeable thin flexible layer which may have a filtering purpose and in particular may block UV radiation. The thickness of this layer may be about 1 mm and not more than 2 mm. This layer may consist of a nonwoven fabric, for example made of glass fibers, or it may be a metal grid with a mesh width of the order of a few μm, for example between 1 and 10 μm. Said layer is positioned on the surface of the carrier grid extending away from the UV lamp 10 in the insert device 6.

Since the further layer 18 can be very thin and flexible, stabilization with a wire grid 19 is recommended. The wire grid may have a larger mesh width, for example between 5 and 15 mm, and a wire diameter between 0.2 and 1.0 mm, for stabilization purposes only.

The sandwich arrangement of support grid 17, further layer 18 and wire grid 19 is preferably mounted in a holding frame 20, so that even if further layer 18 and wire grid 19 are used, the catalyst grid Structure 12 can be easily handled as a complete unit. However, it should be noted that the additional layer 18 and wire grid 19 are optional and may be omitted in some applications. The fully installed catalyst grid structure 12 according to FIG. 11 is represented in an enlarged sectional view in FIG.

FIG. 13 shows an implementation of a mobile air handling unit 1 in the form of a rack cabinet 21 through which the air flows from bottom to top as indicated by the arrow representing the air flow direction 4. It shows the form. After passing through the air-permeable lower part of the rack cabinet 21, the air flows through the pre-filter 5, which consists of a coarse pre-filter 5a and a fine pre-filter 5b. Since a fan is positioned above the pre-filter 5, the air is sucked through the pre-filter 5, and then passes through the downstream unit while being pressed. The first downstream unit in this embodiment is the insert device 6, 6' described above. Downstream thereof follows a filter unit 7 consisting of an adsorptive filter 7a if specific gases are to be removed and, if necessary, a HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filter 7b. The upper surface of the rack cabinet 21 is provided with fins 22, through which the purified air is distributed into the surrounding room. The fins 22 may be adjustable, thereby forming an adjustable exit slot.

A compact construction of the insert device 6 can be achieved in particular by using a special coating material for the carrier grid 17.

Preferably, the coating has a total thickness of at least 50 μm, preferably at least 75 μm, especially at least 100 μm. A coating of such thickness provides, in particular, a satisfactory amount of catalyst for gas decontamination. Preferably, the thickness does not exceed 500 μm, more preferably does not exceed 350 μm, especially does not exceed 250 μm. A preferred range is between 100 and 250 μm. If the coating is too thick, the underlying layers may not be sufficiently irradiated and/or the contaminants to be decontaminated may not be sufficiently accessible. This may lead to waste of catalyst material.

The first catalyst may, for example, consist of tungsten oxide and/or zinc oxide. Preferably, but not necessarily, only one type of first catalyst is used. It is also possible to use two or more types of catalysts having photocatalytic activity.

In some preferred embodiments, the first catalyst is titanium dioxide, _TiO2 . Titanium dioxide is very well known for its photocatalytic properties. Titanium dioxide is a semiconductor and can be activated by irradiation with UV radiation and/or visible radiation with a wavelength of 100-400 nm. Preferably, the UV radiation used to activate the first catalyst, particularly titanium dioxide, has a wavelength below 365 nm, more preferably in the UV-C range between 100 and 280 nm, most preferably 254 nm. The use of UV radiation in the UV-C range has the advantage of additionally using the direct germicidal properties of UV-C radiation. Therefore, UV-C radiation exerts a direct biocidal effect due to its high energy, an indirect biocidal effect by activating the first catalyst, and a non-biological It also works on pollutants. Titanium dioxide can already be photoactivated.

For activation of the first catalyst, preferably any kind of UV radiation emitting source or light source can be used, for example an artificial lamp emitting UV radiation, or a light emitting diode or fluorescent tube emitting UV radiation, or a cold plasma. UV radiation generated by type electrodes may also be used.

Titanium dioxide has the advantage of being cost effective and having the ability to at least partially regenerate itself. Titanium dioxide is highly active against a variety of pollutants, including chemical and biological pollutants.

Titanium dioxide in the anatase crystalline form is known to have the highest catalytic activity. Therefore, it is one embodiment of the invention that the titanium dioxide is completely in the anatase form.

On the other hand, the applicant's research has shown that, contrary to the prevailing opinion, a certain proportion of titanium dioxide in the rutile form will increase the overall decontamination capacity of the catalytic device. Ta. Separation of charges on the surface of the catalyst is enhanced and thus its efficiency is enhanced.

It is a preferred embodiment of the invention that the first catalyst is titanium dioxide TiO ₂ in the form of a mixture of anatase and rutile with an anatase/rutile ratio between 60/40 and 99/1. This is an embodiment. Preferably the ratio is at least 60/40, more preferably at least 70/30 and especially at least 80/20. The ratio preferably does not exceed 99/1, more preferably does not exceed 95/5 and especially does not exceed 90/10. In some further preferred embodiments, the ratio is between 77/23 and 83/17, especially 80/20. In certain preferred embodiments, the first catalyst, in particular titanium dioxide, is doped, in particular with silver ions or platinum ions. Doping the first catalyst enhances the biocidal effect on biological contaminants and on the destruction of potentially harmful by-products of the destroyed contaminants. The presence of doping ions increases the number of oxidation and reduction reactions that can be carried out.

The titanium dioxide preferably has a particle size of 10 to 50 nm, more preferably 15 to 35 nm, especially about 25 nm. These elementary particles tend to aggregate. The average particle size of these aggregates preferably ranges between 200 and 600 nm, more preferably between 300 and 500 nm, especially about 420 nm. However, this does not exclude that some aggregates have particle sizes of 1 micron or more.

In some preferred embodiments, the second catalyst is a low temperature catalyst. A low temperature catalyst is preferably a catalyst that is already catalytically active at temperatures below 100°C, more preferably at temperatures below 50°C, most preferably already at room temperature of 20°C. . However, this does not imply that the catalyst must be inactive at higher temperatures. Preferably, the catalyst activity increases with increasing temperature, at least over a certain temperature interval, preferably over an interval of 20-100°C or 50-100°C.

In other words, the second catalyst is a low temperature catalyst. Low temperature catalysts are activated by calorific energy. The term low temperature catalyst is thereby used to differentiate this class of catalysts, which are activated at relatively low temperatures, from thermal catalysts, which are activated at relatively high temperatures, usually between 500 and 1200°C. Therefore, not only is the low temperature catalyst according to the invention catalytically active at relatively low temperatures, but it is activated by exothermic energy at this relatively low temperature. In other words, a photocatalyst that is photoactivatable at ambient temperature is not a low temperature catalyst because it is activated by irradiation rather than by exothermic energy at ambient temperature. A low-temperature catalyst is preferably a catalyst that is already catalytically activated and therefore at a temperature below 100°C, more preferably at a temperature below 50°C, most preferably already at a temperature of 20°C. Active at room temperature. However, this does not imply that the catalyst must be inactive at higher temperatures. Preferably, the catalyst activity increases with increasing temperature, at least over a certain temperature interval, preferably over an interval of 20-100°C or 50-100°C.

Low temperature catalysts are, for example, metal oxides such as nickel oxide or cerium oxide. In some preferred embodiments of the invention, the second catalyst is manganese monoxide, MnO, which is an efficient low temperature catalyst. Applicant's research has shown that manganese monoxide is significantly more efficient than the well-known manganese dioxide _MnO2 , which has insufficient catalytic activity. Therefore, the manganese monoxide used in this embodiment is preferably free or substantially free of manganese dioxide. In certain preferred embodiments, the amount of manganese dioxide is less than 5%, more preferably less than 1%, and most preferably less than 0.1% of the total mass of manganese monoxide used as the second catalyst. . Optimally, manganese dioxide is not present as an impurity in the manganese monoxide second catalyst.

Manganese monoxide, especially in crystalline form, allows the formation of highly reactive radical species when in contact with oxygen, for example from air. Preferably the temperature is above 35°C, especially between 35 and 55°C, more preferably between 45 and 50°C. Preferably, the relative humidity of the gas to be decontaminated, especially air, is between 30 and 80%, more preferably 50%. Under these conditions, very efficient generation of radical species is expected. Radical species can also react with very small contaminants on the nanoscale or microscale, such as aldehydes such as formaldehyde, and such small contaminants are usually difficult to crack. This is because, inter alia, such small molecules are difficult to trap. Hydrophilic catalysts are usually rapidly saturated with water or other small polar molecules, so there are few sites available to trap and then oxidize small contaminants. On the other hand, manganese monoxide is poor at reacting with water and trapping water molecules on its surface, thus offering the particular advantage that more sites are available for contaminants. Furthermore, because the pores in manganese monoxide are preferably smaller than those in titanium dioxide, larger molecules are less likely to be trapped, and in this respect as well, more sites remain available for contaminants. . Radical species also react with biological contaminants.

The disadvantage of manganese monoxide is that it is less stable than manganese dioxide. Therefore, when synthesizing manganese monoxide, special attention must be paid to the reaction parameters if the formation of manganese dioxide is to be preferably avoided. One important reaction parameter is temperature. When using calcination temperatures higher than 300°C, significant amounts of manganese dioxide or only manganese dioxide is formed.

Since the formation of titanium dioxide from precursors typically requires temperatures above 300°C, e.g. It is not possible to form manganese oxide on the one hand and titanium dioxide on the other. Firing temperatures higher than 600° C. during titanium dioxide formation can result in excessive rutile formation and are undesirable. On the other hand, a certain amount of rutile increases the efficiency of the catalyst, as mentioned above.

Therefore, when the first catalyst is titanium dioxide and the second catalyst is manganese monoxide, co-firing is preferably not performed.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the synthesis of the first catalyst, second catalyst and/or adsorbent is part of the method of manufacturing the catalytic device. Preferred embodiments of the synthesis are discussed in detail below. If the synthesis of at least titanium dioxide as a first catalyst and manganese monoxide as a second catalyst is part of the manufacturing process, it is preferred that no co-calcination of these precursors takes place. Preferably they are synthesized separately from each other.

One advantage of using a low temperature catalyst, particularly manganese monoxide, is that the necessarily generated waste heat of the UV radiation source can be used to warm the low temperature catalyst, thereby increasing its catalytic efficiency. . Therefore, a synergistic effect may be realized when the photocatalyst and the low temperature catalyst are combined in one stage and preferably placed spatially close to the UV radiation source for efficient use of waste heat. . Preferably, temperatures of up to 40°C, up to 50°C or up to 90°C can be achieved on the surface of the catalytic device.

The adsorbent is a compound having a large specific surface area, preferably at least 300 m ² /g, more preferably at least 500 m ² /g, most preferably at least 1000 m ² /g, especially above 2000 m ² /g. is preferable. The adsorbent may be activated carbon or activated coke, for example.

In certain preferred embodiments, the adsorbent is a zeolite. Zeolites are microporous aluminosilicate minerals that can be naturally occurring or man-made. Zeolites may be synthetic.

Preferably, hydrophilic zeolites are used because applicant's research has shown that biological contaminants tend to be better adsorbed by hydrophilic zeolites than by hydrophobic zeolites. Because there is. Preferably, zeolites of type A or ZSM-5 are used. Preferably, the zeolite is a synthetic zeolite, especially of type A or ZSM-5. Synthetic zeolites have the advantage of being pure and having a homogeneous structure due to the fact that they are synthesized.

In certain preferred embodiments of the invention, the first catalyst is titanium dioxide, the second catalyst is manganese monoxide, and/or the adsorbent is zeolite. Preferably, the zeolite is a type A synthetic hydrophilic zeolite. These configurations are suitable for all applicable embodiments described herein.

In certain preferred embodiments of the invention, the first catalyst is titanium dioxide, the second catalyst is manganese monoxide, and/or the adsorbent is zeolite. Preferably, the zeolite is a type A synthetic hydrophilic zeolite. These configurations are suitable for all applicable embodiments described herein.

Applicants have discovered that certain ratios of single components are advantageous for efficient scavenging of contaminants. Preferably, the ratio between type A zeolite and titanium dioxide ranges between 3:1 and 1:1, in particular about 2:1. The ratio of type A zeolite to manganese monoxide preferably ranges between 5:1 and 3:1, in particular about 4:1. The ratio of titanium dioxide to manganese oxide preferably ranges between §:1 and 1:1, in particular about 2:1. These preferred ratios also apply to first catalysts, second catalysts, and adsorbents other than titanium dioxide, manganese monoxide, and/or type A zeolites.

Type A hydrophilic zeolites have a high affinity for chemical and biological pollutants and have no natural equivalents. It has an affinity for the cell membranes of microorganisms. These are adsorbed onto the zeolite surface for electrostatic reasons. In addition, hydrophilic zeolites of type A have a direct antimicrobial effect, making their use even more synergistic. Type A hydrophilic zeolites have a crystal structure formed from anionic aluminosilicate structures neutralized by alkali or alkaline earth metal cations.

Zeolites, especially type A zeolites, preferably have a sodalite crystal structure.

The structure of zeolites connects multiple basic sodalite cages. A sodalite cage consists of multiple polyhedra with eight hexagonal faces and six square faces. The sodalite cages forming the zeolite are interconnected through square faces. The particular structure of the sodalite cage gives the zeolite an open 3D structure, whereby in particular 47% of the total volume is formed by pores. Zeolites therefore provide a large surface area for the adsorption of biological and chemical contaminants within a small volume. In addition, the open 3D structure allows for high moisture adsorption and moisture retention capacity. This may be advantageous since water can be used to form highly reactive radical species such as hydroxyl radicals on the surface of the catalyst. Also, the water holding capacity can, in some circumstances, ensure that a film of water does not form on the catalyst, thereby reducing the efficiency of the catalyst. On the other hand, very large amounts of adsorbent, especially large amounts of zeolite, can lead to excess water and thereby reduce the efficiency of the catalyst. Therefore, it is preferred that the amount of adsorbent does not exceed 80%, in particular does not exceed 70%, of the total mass of the first catalyst, second catalyst and adsorbent. On the other hand, if the amount of adsorbent is very small, it is possible that the water holding capacity is not sufficient. Therefore, the amount of adsorbent is preferably 40% or more, particularly 30% or more of the total mass of the first catalyst, second catalyst, and adsorbent.

The inventors have explored that the combination of two different catalysts and adsorbents is synergistically effective for gas decontamination. Contaminants are adsorbed onto the adsorbent. Due to mass transfer phenomena, they are transferred to the catalyst particles. The production of reactive species on the surface of the catalyst then results in the destruction of the contaminant, preferably complete mineralization of the contaminant. Similarly, by-products during the destruction of pollutants are either destroyed so that potentially harmful by-products are not released into the decontaminated gas, or if released within one cycle of the next decontamination cycle. Preferably destroyed. In this regard, the adsorbent may also form a reservoir for pollutants to be destroyed, for example while the gas is at peak load of pollutants. Therefore, it is preferable that the amount of contaminants that exceed the catalytic capacity of the catalyst per time unit is once retained by the adsorbent and then guided to the catalyst after a time delay. This also makes it possible to handle peak loads that would essentially exceed the capacity of the catalyst without the adsorbent. In order to provide good adsorption properties, the amount of adsorbent should be higher than the amount of each catalyst and/or the cumulative amount of the catalysts relative to the total mass of the first catalyst, second catalyst and adsorbent. is preferred.

The adsorbent retains the contaminants, which will later be transferred to the catalyst by mass transfer. On the other hand, this phenomenon constantly regenerates the adsorbent and restores its adsorption capacity. This demonstrates the true synergistic effect of providing these compounds in one mixture. In order to optimally realize this effect, the mixing of catalyst and adsorbent is preferably carried out intensively, in particular in order to provide as homogeneous a mixture as possible. The amount of the first catalyst is preferably at least 10%, more preferably at least 20%, and preferably does not exceed 30%, especially 40%, of the total mass of the first catalyst, second catalyst and adsorbent. not exceed. The amount of the second catalyst is preferably at least 5%, more preferably at least 10%, especially at least 15% and preferably more than 20% of the total mass of the first catalyst, second catalyst and adsorbent. No, especially not exceeding 30%.

In certain preferred embodiments, the components are provided in the following ranges as weight percentages of their total mass: That is, the first catalyst is between 27-30%, the second catalyst is between 11-17%, and the adsorbent is between 55-59%.

Certain preferred embodiments contain an amount of 29% first catalyst, 12% second catalyst, and 59% adsorbent.

Applicant's research has revealed that this ratio exhibits satisfactory water and dye holding capacity with good efficiency. These amounts result in a composition that is particularly sustainable and long-lasting, yet provides excellent decontamination attributes. Additionally, the amount of UV/visible radiation required to activate the first catalyst is an amount sufficient and useful to increase the catalytic activity of the second catalyst when the second catalyst is a low temperature catalyst. of waste heat.

In addition, the invention provides that the amount of the first catalyst is lower than 27% and higher than 30%, the amount of the second catalyst is lower than 11% and higher than 17%, and the amount of adsorbent is lower than 55%. and higher than 59%, each amount being a percentage by weight, based on their total mass. All further preferred configurations and embodiments described herein apply to this particular embodiment.

As mentioned above, the synthesis of the first catalyst, second catalyst, and/or adsorbent is preferably, but not necessarily, part of the method of manufacturing the catalytic device. Each composition is performed separately from another composition.

If the first catalyst is suitably titanium dioxide, it is synthesized using a sol-gel process using precursors such as titanium tetrachloride or butyl titanate, followed by a temperature of 300-600°C. Preferably, it is fired. Different methods for making powdered titanium dioxide are also possible, such as thermal plasma technology, laser pyrolysis, hydrothermal synthesis, or electrochemical synthesis.

A preferred sol-gel process for synthesizing a powdered titanium dioxide first catalyst will now be described in detail.

The precursor titanium tetrachloride is mixed with absolute ethanol in a ratio between 0.5:10 and 3:10, preferably 1:10, for 4 hours at room temperature. The formed sol is then placed in an ultrasonic bath for 20-40 minutes, preferably 30 minutes. Subsequently, the sol is heated at temperatures of 100°C and 130°C, preferably 120°C, for a period of between 1 and 24 hours, preferably 7 hours, in order to obtain a powder. dried. This powder is then progressively calcined at a temperature between 530 and 570°C, preferably at 550°C, over a period of 2 to 3 hours, preferably 2 hours. The temperature is thereby increased stepwise at 10-12° C./min. The powdered titanium oxide obtained is then washed with deionized water and subsequently dried at a temperature between 90 and 110°C, preferably 100°C.

If the second catalyst is preferably manganese monoxide, it is synthesized from precursors such as manganese acetate, manganese nitrate, and/or manganese sulfate, followed by calcination at a temperature below 300°C. is preferable.

A preferred process for synthesizing a manganese monoxide secondary catalyst in powder form will now be described in detail.

The precursor, preferably manganese acetate, is mixed with a solution of potassium permanganate in a mol/l ratio of 1,8/1,2 at room temperature between 21 and 25° C. for at least 24 hours. be done. It is then filtered and rinsed with deionized water. The powder obtained is calcined for several hours, preferably 72 hours, increasing the temperature at 6°C/min until a temperature between 280 and 300°C is reached. The resultant is rinsed with deionized water and subsequently dried at 100°C, finally yielding powdered manganese monoxide that can be used subsequently. Preferably, the liquid is completely evaporated in order to obtain a fully usable powder. Low temperatures below 300° C. are used to avoid the formation of more stable but undesirable manganese dioxide.

When the adsorbent is a synthetic hydrophilic zeolite of type A, it is preferably synthesized as follows:
Step 1: Provide a sodium hydroxide solution by mixing sodium hydroxide, e.g. pellets of sodium hydroxide in distilled water in a ratio of 110:1 to obtain a homogeneous sodium hydroxide solution.
Step 2: Divide the sodium hydroxide solution into two equal parts, thereby obtaining a first volume and a second volume of sodium hydroxide solution.
Step 3: To obtain solution A, crystalline sodium aluminate is mixed into the first volume up to 17% by volume and within 10-20 minutes.
Step 4: To obtain solution B, crystalline sodium silicate Na ₂ SiO ₃ is dissolved in distilled water to a maximum of 57% by volume.
Step 5: To obtain a mixture C, preferably a clear mixture C, solution B is mixed with the second volume in a ratio of 3.8/1000.
Step 6: Clarified mixture C is added to solution A to obtain mixture D.
Step 7: Mixture D is heated until the water is completely evaporated.
Step 8: Mixture D is cooled by lowering the temperature until solid E appears.
Step 9: Solid E is filtered and rinsed with distilled water until the pH value of the rinse water is between 8.5 and 9.5.
Step 10: To obtain synthetic hydrophilic zeolite of type A, solid E is heated at a temperature between 100 and 120°C, preferably at a temperature of 110°C, for 8 to 15 hours, preferably 12 hours. and dry.
Step 11: Grind the A-type synthetic hydrophilic zeolite into powder.

In step 7, the temperature is preferably between 75 and 130°C, preferably 3 to 4 hours at 100°C. The goal is to completely evaporate water from mixture D. In step 8, mixture D is preferably cooled by lowering the temperature to a value lower than in step 7 but above room temperature. This cooling can prevent the crystals of solid E that form from sticking to the bottom of the container in which mixture D was initially placed. In one particular embodiment of step 8, the temperature is reduced to 30° C., taking into account that the room temperature is between 20 and 25° C., so that the solid E can be removed without sticking to the bottom. becomes easier.

In a normal manner, the pH value of the rinse water in step 9 is measured using a pH meter or any other measuring device known to the person skilled in the art that allows the determination of pH values. By indirectly measuring the pH value of the rinse water, the surface pH value of the solid E, which is to form a synthetic hydrophilic zeolite of type A, is determined.

It is preferred that the surface of the zeolite is slightly alkaline, since titanium dioxide and manganese monoxide have slightly acidic surfaces and the formation of van der Waals forces with them is thereby enhanced. This is because that. This facilitates producing a homogeneous catalyst composition.

In step 10, the drying duration and temperature of solid E allows a gentle removal of water molecules on the surface of the zeolite. If water is removed too quickly, there is a risk of cracks forming on the zeolite surface. This crack weakens critical 3D structures. This is why a drying time of between 8 and 15 hours and a temperature of 100 to 120° C. have been chosen to progressively remove water molecules without running the risk of weakening the zeolite structure.

In step 11, the synthetic hydrophilic zeolite of type A may be ground using any grinding device.

In certain embodiments, the adsorbent, particularly the zeolite, is ground to achieve a particle size between 0.5 and 2.5 μm. This particle size increases the affinity for specific microorganisms.

One preferred method for combining the first catalyst, second catalyst, and adsorbent is to premix the first catalyst, second catalyst, and adsorbent, respectively, in powder form and beforehand or separately in a liquid form. to form a slurry. The slurry is then preferably aggressively mixed and the liquid evaporated to form a dry powder mixture of the first catalyst, second catalyst, and adsorbent. This mixture can then be used as is or used to form a slurry that is coated onto a support.

In certain particularly preferred embodiments, between 5 and 10% titanium dioxide, based on the total weight of the liquid, and between 2 and 6 % manganese monoxide and between 10-20% zeolite are mixed. Subsequently, the mixture is heated to evaporate the liquid to obtain a powdered catalyst composition that will be used subsequently. Preferably, the mixture is heated to a temperature of 75 to 130° C. over a period of between 24 and 120 hours, preferably 72 hours.

The present invention further specifically relates to a slurry formed from a first catalyst, a second catalyst, an adsorbent, and deionized water.

According to another aspect, the invention relates to a catalytic device obtainable via the manufacturing method described herein.

According to another aspect, the present invention provides a catalyst composition comprising between 27 and 30% of a first catalyst having photocatalytic activity and a second catalyst having a photocatalytic activity, in weight percent relative to the total mass thereof and each in powder form. and between 11 and 17% of adsorbent and between 55 and 59% of adsorbent.

All embodiments and configurations described herein with respect to catalyst devices are also preferred configurations and embodiments of catalyst compositions.

When the second catalyst is suitably a low temperature catalyst, the catalyst composition is sometimes referred to as a non-thermal catalyst or a thermal catalyst since high heating is not required to activate the catalyst. Since the first catalyst, second catalyst, and adsorbent are each provided in a powdered state, the catalyst composition is sometimes referred to as a powdered nonthermal catalyst or a powdered thermal catalyst. In one embodiment, the first catalyst with photocatalytic activity is still photoactivated.

According to certain preferred embodiments of the catalyst composition, the first catalyst is titanium dioxide _TiO2 , the second catalyst is manganese monoxide MnO, and the adsorbent is zeolite. Preferably, the zeolite is a type A synthetic hydrophilic zeolite.

In addition, the present invention provides certain embodiments of catalyst compositions in which the amount of the first catalyst is less than 27% and more than 30%, the amount of the second catalyst is less than 11% and more than 17%. , and embodiments in which the amount of adsorbent is lower than 55% and higher than 59%, each amount being a weight percent, relative to their total mass. All further preferred configurations and embodiments described herein apply to this particular embodiment.

Experimental Protocol and Results Applicants have used different catalyst compositions for several organic compounds. The following table shows the scavenging rates of different compounds in mg of carbon equivalent per hour (mgC/h) for different compounds using different catalyst compositions. The use of carbon equivalents helps to improve the comparability of numbers and compensates for the fact that different compounds have different numbers of carbon atoms, and thus, depending on that, different amounts of decomposition reactions are led. It is. Isopropyl alcohol is abbreviated as IPA, and butanone is abbreviated as MEK. Relative amounts of ingredients are expressed as weight percent relative to the total weight of the composition. Titanium dioxide is abbreviated as T, manganese monoxide as M, and A-type hydrophilic synthetic zeolite as ZA.

As can be seen from the table above, different compositions showed different erasure rates for different compounds. As can be seen, titanium dioxide alone (Composition F) and manganese monoxide alone (Composition E) each were generally less effective than the combination of the two catalysts and adsorbents. As can also be seen, compositions H, B, and C exhibited higher or similar efficiencies compared to compositions F and E and the combination of manganese monoxide and zeolite (composition D). . This was true except for ethanol, which was scavenged with higher efficiency in composition D.

Therefore, the combination of two different catalysts and adsorbents exhibits a synergistic effect over either the catalyst alone or the combination of manganese monoxide and zeolite.

Composition C was used for the following validation because it showed a good overall elimination profile, but especially for the hydrophilic compounds IPA, ethanol, and MEK. be. Efficient scavenging of these hydrophilic compounds is based on the assumption that such compositions will also be efficient against microbiological contaminants since the cell walls of most microbiological contaminants are hydrophilic. give.

To demonstrate efficiency, the following experiments were performed with biological contaminants, namely:
- bacterial spores of Bacillus subtilis at a concentration between 10 ⁴ and 10 ⁶ colony forming units (CFU)/m ³ air;
- Legionella pneumophila at a concentration between 10 ⁴ and 10 ⁶ CFU/m ³ ,
- T2 bacteriophage at a concentration between 10 ³ and 10 ⁴ plaque forming units (PFU)/m ³ was used.

Experiments were carried out with the device having the sandwich design described above placed in a 0.8 m ³ class A isolator. The carrier was made of honeycomb-shaped aluminum. The UV radiation source was an 18W lamp emitting UV-C.

An aerosol generator is used to provide airflow within the isolator. Each time the air comprises only one of the mentioned pollutants. The contaminated air is then treated using the device.

To demonstrate the efficiency of the treatment, samples are collected from the air before and after treatment using a biocollector and a comparison is provided. The sample is used to prepare cultures in a medium corresponding to the contaminant used.

For Legionella pneumophila, BYCE medium containing agar and L-cysteine obtained from Biomerieux is used.

For Bacillus subtilis, LB Luria-Bertani medium is used.

T2 bacteriophages include E. Media with E. coli BAM were used to determine the number of lysis plagues derived from active virus.

The results showed that after treatment, there was a 2 log (99.45%) decrease in Legionella pneumophila, a 1 log (96.67%) decrease in Bacillus subtilis spores, and a decrease in bacteriophage T2 compared to pre-treatment air. shows a 3 log (99.98%) reduction.

Additionally, additional similar experiments were performed using different biological and chemical contaminants. These were carried out in a microbiological safety cabinet with a volume of 0.537 m ³ . The device was running for 10 minutes. Post- and pre-samples were collected for comparison. No outlet filter was used.

The reduction of human coronavirus strain 229E (H-CoV-229E) was >log2.2 (>99.4%).

The reduction in Staphylococcus aureus CIP 4.83 after 15 minutes of run time was log 1.3 (94.9%).

Another similar series of tests was performed using different biological contaminants. These were accomplished using a device with a sandwich design and a HEPA outlet filter. The flow rate was 1000 or 1400 m ³ /h and the duration was 6 minutes.

At 1400 m ³ /h, the efficiency for the removal of Staphylococcus epidermidis (ATCC 14 990) is >99.88% and the efficiency for the removal of Aspergillus brasiliensis (ATCC 16 404) is >99%. It was .75%. At 1000 m ³ /h, the efficiency for the removal of Staphylococcus epidermidis (ATCC 14 990) is >99.91% and the efficiency for the removal of Aspergillus brasiliensis (ATCC 16 404) is >99.82%. there were.

The same test was performed without the use of a HEPA filter.

At 1400 m ³ /h, the efficiency for the removal of Staphylococcus epidermidis (ATCC 14 990) was 92.94% and the efficiency for the removal of Aspergillus brasiliensis (ATCC 16 404) was 93.59%. . At 1000 m ³ /h, the efficiency for the removal of Staphylococcus epidermidis (ATCC 14 990) was 96.32% and the efficiency for the removal of Aspergillus brasiliensis (ATCC 16 404) was approximately 90.00%. Ta.

Additionally, the removal of airborne cat allergen (Fel d1) was investigated using a HEPA filter and a flow rate of 1400 m ³ /h. Efficiency was between >99.80% and >99.86%.

Similarly, with an air flow of 1000 m ³ /h with a filter (A) and without a filter (B), and with an air flow of 1400 m ³ /h with a filter (C) and without a filter (D). The reduction of VOCs was investigated.

Efficiency for acetaldehyde removal is 31.5% ± 20% (A), 39.4% ± 11.1% (B), 45.5% ± 11.0% (C), and 56.2%. It was ±8.2% (D).

Efficiency for acetone removal is 98.1% ± 1.7% (A), 94.5% ± 0.5% (B), 90.5% ± 1.3% (C), and 100%. It was ±2.3% (D).

Efficiency for acidic acid removal is 99.7% ± 0.1% (A), 99.3% ± 0.2% (B), 99.5% ± 0.10% (C), and It was 99.4%±0.1% (D).

The efficiency for heptane removal was 98.0%±0.2 (A) and the efficiency for toluene removal was 98.4%±0.1% (A).

1 Air handling unit 2 Air guiding tube 3 Fan 4 Flow direction 5 Pre-filter 6 Insert device 7 Filter unit 8 Frame casing 9 Open end face 10 UV lamp 11 Seat 12 (catalyst) grid structure 13 Bracket 14 Screw 15 (standard ) Support frame 16 Bracket 17 Carrier grid 18 Further layer 19 Wire grid 20 Holding frame

Claims (16)

An insert device for an air conditioning installation, said air conditioning installation comprising an air handling unit (1) for guiding air flowing in a given flow direction, said air handling unit (1) comprising at least a filter (5, 7) In an insert device having a casing of a predetermined cross section in which is housed,
The insert device comprises a frame casing (8) with an outer closed periphery, the insert device being adapted to be installed within a predetermined cross-section of the casing of the air handling unit (1) and controlling the air flow. and having end faces (9) open for the purpose of transport, each of said end faces (9) having an air-permeable catalyst grid structure (12) comprising a support grid (17) and a coating of catalyst material. that it is retained;
the catalytic material is a mixture comprising an adsorbent, a first catalyst activatable by electromagnetic radiation, and a second catalyst activated at low temperatures; and
said frame casing (8) additionally retains a source of electromagnetic radiation between said catalyst grid structure (12) on its end face (9);
Insert device featuring The insert device according to claim 1,
Insert device, characterized in that the first catalyst is activatable by UV radiation and that the electromagnetic radiation source emits UV radiation. The insert device according to claim 2,
Insert device, characterized in that at least one UV lamp (10) is arranged between the catalyst grid structure (12) as the electromagnetic radiation source device. The insert device according to claim 2,
Insert device, characterized in that a plasma generator, which generates UV radiation in addition to plasma, serves as the electromagnetic radiation source device. The insert device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
An insert device characterized in that both catalysts and the adsorbent are mixed in powder form before the coating step. The insert device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
An insert device characterized in that the insert device comprises an air filter material. The insert device according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
An insert device characterized in that the insert device is provided with a UV blocking layer. The insert device according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
An insert device characterized in that the carrier grid is aluminum or an aluminum alloy. The insert device according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
Insert device, wherein the carrier grid has a honeycomb structure. The insert device according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
An insert device, wherein the catalytic material is binder-free. The insert device according to any one of claims 1 to 10,
Insert device, wherein the first catalyst is titanium dioxide _TiO2 , the second catalyst is manganese monoxide MnO, and the adsorbent is a zeolite, in particular a type A zeolite. The insert device according to any one of claims 1 to 11,
The components of the catalytic material may be present in weight percent relative to their total mass in the following ranges:
An insert device, wherein the first catalyst is provided in a range between 27 and 30%, the second catalyst is provided in a range between 11 and 17%, and the adsorbent is provided in a range between 55 and 59%. The insert device according to any one of claims 1 to 12,
the catalytic material is a powdered non-thermal catalyst, expressed as a weight percent relative to its total mass;
between 27 and 30% photoactivated titanium dioxide TiO ₂ ,
between 11 and 17% manganese monoxide MnO,
synthetic hydrophilic zeolite of type A between 55 and 59%;
An insert device which is a powder non-thermal catalyst comprising: An air conditioning equipment comprising an air handling unit (1) that guides air flowing in a given flow direction, the air handling unit (1) having a casing of a predetermined cross section in which at least filters (5, 7) are housed. in an air conditioning installation, wherein the filter (5, 7) is held by a support frame (15) having a circumferential shape adapted to the free cross section of the casing of the air handling unit (1),
Air conditioning installation, characterized in that said insert device (6, 6') is inserted into said support frame (15). The air conditioning equipment according to claim 14,
Air conditioning equipment, wherein the insert device (6, 6') is an insert device according to any one of claims 1 to 13. The air conditioning equipment according to claim 14 or 15,
Air conditioning installation, characterized in that the insert device (6, 6') is inserted into the air handling unit (1) in addition to the filter unit (7).

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